WASHINGTON – Jewish Republicans nationwide are hoping a heated congressional race rematch in the New York suburbs puts a second Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives.

Following a narrow 593-vote defeat two years ago to Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Jewish businessman Randy Altschuler again is running against the incumbent in New York’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Suffolk County.

“There’s not a huge Jewish community, but there certainly are Jews in the district and whenever there are Jews present in a close race like this, the Jewish vote can play an outsized role,” said David Harris, president and CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council.

Observers also are watching closely since the district is known for a tendency to swing its presidential vote, favoring Barack Obama in 2008 and George W. Bush in 2004. The recent round of redistricting has left the district relatively unchanged, with 35,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, according to the Long Island Press.

The campaign differs substantially from the most recent New York race that drew national Jewish focus. Last year, Republican Bob Turner bested Democrat David Weprin in the race to replace Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) in the heavily Jewish 9th District. Dissatisfaction among Jewish voters over President Obama’s support for Israel was a major issue in that campaign while jobs seem to be the focus in the rematch.

The 1st District race might not have that strong a Jewish flavor, but the potential for Altschuler to join House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as the second Jewish Republican in Congress is significant, according to Matthew Brooks, director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

“I think he [Altschuler] will be a common sense leader who is a proven, successful businessman and understands how the economy works,” he said. “He knows how to create jobs and obviously as a Jewish Republican he is a strong, passionate and articulate defender of Israel.”

Altschuler apparently has a tough fight ahead of him: a recently released poll by the Bishop campaign showed its candidate with a 17-point lead over the likely challenger.

Altschuler is one of several Jewish Republicans drawing attention from RJC supporters. Others include Adam Hasner, competing for a House seat in the Florida delegation, and former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel, both vying for Senate spots.

Altschuler, who has family living in Israel, said his support for the Jewish state has a “personal element to it.”

For his part, Bishop told JTA, “Maintaining our relationship with Israel is crucial to stability in the Middle East.”

Like many areas, Suffolk County has been hit hard by the economic downturn. Yet, it has recently seen a decrease in unemployment. Since February, when the unemployment rate reached 8.3 percent, the level there has dropped to 7.5 percent.

“My focus is on strengthening the middle class and I think the people of this district – as well as the people of this country – are going to be presented with a real choice and there are two conflicting visions of how you achieve economic stability,” Bishop said, noting he will continue to concentrate on sustaining the middle class.

Altschuler has released a 10-point jobs plan that outlines ways to jumpstart Long Island’s economy. It calls for finding ways to reform and simplify the tax code, cutting taxes, easing regulations on small businesses, and providing tax credits to businesses hiring veterans.

In 2010, Altschuler was criticized for outsourcing jobs from his business support services company, Office Tiger, to India and Sri Lanka. Surrogates for Bishop are taking up the charge once again.

“Randy Altschuler made a fortune outsourcing American jobs to India and Sri Lanka, and now he’s running for Congress to lower his own taxes and the taxes of other millionaires and billionaires,” Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chairman Rich Schaffer said in a statement. “That doesn’t play well in Suffolk County.”

Altschuler countered that he “created over a thousand jobs in America and I’ve created jobs around the world because I have an international business.”

Altschuler believes that campaign adjustments he’s made this time will make the difference.

In the 2010 race, he was ahead on election night by 3,400 votes, but would lose one month later after a recount. The lack of an absentee ballot program in his campaign made the difference, he said.

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Imported and Older Comments:

Altschuler will lose again. It’s common knowledge he has bought his nomination by showering money on the NYS Repub Party as well as the RNC. He is part of the new millionaire political resurgence given impetus by the Citizens United decision. His oft repeated slogan “Let’s reward hard work, not condemn success,” is as specious as he seems narcissistic. As the darling of the Suffolk Tea Party & the 9/12 Coalition, Altschuler is the stalking horse of the hard right, financially underwritten by U.S. big oil & gas companies. He most certainly did not creat thousands of jobs as he claims when he sold out tens of thousand American jobs to the cheapest bidder. He will lose again. –mo